[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 93 (Friday, May 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22919-22920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11339]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP09-60-000]


Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Pier Reinforcement Project

May 8, 2009.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) of the Pier 
Reinforcement Project proposed by Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP (DCP) in 
the above-referenced docket.
    The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval 
of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would 
not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the 
quality of the human environment.
    The FERC is the lead agency for the preparation of the EA. The 
United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard) and the United States Army 
Corps of Engineers (COE) are cooperating agencies for the development 
of the EA. A cooperating agency has jurisdiction by law or special 
expertise with respect to the proposed action and participates in the 
NEPA analysis.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of 
modifications to DCP's existing pier in the Chesapeake Bay at the Cove 
Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Calvert County, Maryland. 
The Pier Reinforcement Project would involve the following construction 
activities:
     Addition of ten new mooring dolphins;
     Reinforcement of eight existing breasting dolphins;
     Walkways to connect the mooring dolphins to the existing 
pier;
     Replacement of the existing gangway system with an 
automated gangway;
     Installation of new display boards;
     Upgrading the docking control system to incorporate new 
quick-release mooring hooks;
     Dredging approximately 120,000 cubic yards of sediment 
directly adjacent to the pier; and
     Placing the dredged material at a permitted dredged 
material placement site.
    The purpose of the project is to upgrade, expand, and modify the 
existing pier to accommodate DCP's customers and recent advances in LNG 
ship technology. The reinforced pier would enable the safe docking, 
discharge, and departure of vessels capable of carrying cargoes of up 
to 267,000 cubic meters of LNG. These vessels would be larger than 
those currently authorized for the Cove Point LNG Terminal and would 
allow comparable quantities of LNG to be delivered using fewer vessels.
    The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited 
number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public 
inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference 
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-
8371.
    Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, State, and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers 
and libraries in the project area, and parties to this proceeding. Any 
person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure consideration 
prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is important that we 
receive your comments before the date specified below.
    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on 
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and 
measures to

[[Page 22920]]

avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, 
the more useful they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely 
and properly recorded, please send in your comments so that they will 
be received in Washington, DC on or before June 8, 2009.
    For your convenience, there are three methods in which you can use 
to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please 
reference the project docket number (CP09-60-000) with your submission. 
The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has 
dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258 
or [email protected].
    (1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick 
Comment feature, which is located on the Commission's internet Web site 
at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. A Quick 
Comment is an easy method for interested persons to submit text-only 
comments on a project;
    (2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site at 
http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. eFiling 
involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if 
filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard 
drive. You will attach that file as your submission. New eFiling users 
must first create an account by clicking on ``Sign up'' or 
``eRegister''. You will be asked to select the type of filing you are 
making. A comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment on 
a Filing;'' or
    (3) You may file your comments via mail to the Commission by 
sending an original and two copies of your letter to: Kimberly D. Bose, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
    Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 3, 
PJ11.3. Mail your comments promptly, so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 8, 2009.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to 
become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene 
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision. Further instructions for 
becoming an intervenor are included in the User's Guide under the ``e-
filing'' link on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).
    Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be 
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they 
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be 
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor 
status to have your comments considered.
    The COE is also soliciting comments from the public in order to 
consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project to waters of 
the United States, including jurisdictional wetlands. All comments 
received by the COE will become a part of the COE's administrative 
record and will be considered by the COE in evaluating the Department 
of the Army permit application. You may submit comments directly to the 
COE. The COE project number is NAB-2008-01241-M05 (200861276 T61277) 
(Dominion Cove Point LNG/Pier Reinforcement Project). Copies of any 
written statements expressing concern for aquatic resources may be 
submitted to: Mrs. Kathy Anderson, Corps of Engineers, CENAB-OP-RMS, 
P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715.
    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC (3372) or on 
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary 
link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter 
the docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number 
field (i.e. CP09-60). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date 
range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the 
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, 
notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called 
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances 
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time 
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with 
notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to 
the documents. Go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-11339 Filed 5-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P